You can feel the training Mike Longo received from Oscar Peterson when he stretches out liberally on “Fiesta Mojo.” The swing he inherited from Cannonball Adderley and the spontaneity that stems from his long association with Dizzy Gillespie also show up on this live recording from last year’s Detroit Jazz Festival. Bassist Santi Debriano and drummer Ray Mosca find the setting ideal as well for turning loose their improvisational ties. At one hour and 15 minutes, this festival set allows plenty of room for Longo’s talented acoustic trio to navigate. Unlike some “live” recordings, this one has captured the trio’s sound quite well.
Straight-ahead and pumped up, Longo offers an eclectic program from the mainstream. His extended medley on “Porgy and Bess” captures the passion that comes with its telling story. The pianist builds cascades that climb and drift lazily past memorable landscapes. Many South Carolina seashore communities lost that informal feeling long ago, but Gershwin’s music never fades. Shifts in the trio’s mood take the audience through several key chapters of the classic opera. Longo brings back all the swing that was embodied by those fascinating characters.
The trio’s interpretation of Wayne Shorter, Monk, Diz and Trane infuses straight-ahead jazz with a healthy spirit. As evidenced by their live festival session, no classic piece is ever played the same way twice. When they close the performance with a rousing “Night in Tunisia,” Longo, Debriano and Mosca stir the senses as few others can manage to convey convincingly. Recommended, their trio outing adds plenty of fuel to the fires that still burn for the memory of the fathers of modern jazz.
All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.
You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.
We sent a confirmation message to . Look for it, then click the link to activate your account. If you don’t see the email in your inbox, check your spam, bulk or promotions folder.
Jim Santella has been contributing CD reviews, concert reviews and DVD reviews to AAJ since 1997. His work has also appeared in Southland Blues,The L.A. Jazz Scene, and Cadence Magazine.